Relativity in Social Cognition: Basic processes and novel applications of social comparisons

Unkelbach, Christian; Alves, Hans; Baldwin, Matthew; Crusius, Jan; Diel, Kathi; Galinsky, Adam D.; Gast, Anne; Hofmann, Wilhelm; Genschow, Oliver; Lammers, Joris; Pauels, Eileen; Schneider, Iris K.; Topolinski, Sascha; Westfal, Mareike; Mussweiler, Thomas

doi:10.1080/10463283.2022.2161043

Cited by 18 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 149 publications

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“…Although there is ample evidence for contrast effects emerging in comparative judgement (Unkelbach et al, 2023), we consider the occurrence of backward accentuation particularly intriguing because our experimental set-up did not facilitate shifts of previously learned impressions at all. Specifically, in our paradigm, participants formed an unbiased impression of a first-learned focal group and were subsequently asked to keep this impression in mind before encountering the second group.…”

Section: Backward Accentuationmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Consequently, differences between exemplars of different groups tend to be overestimated. A second potentially relevant memory bias has been uncovered in the realm of contrast effects in general (for an overview, see Unkelbach et al., 2023), but may also apply to intergroup accentuation. More specifically, once perceivers have formed a holistic impression that two groups are different, information in support of this hypothesis will be selectively retrieved from memory (Mussweiler, 2003).…”

Section: Intergroup Accentuationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exaggerating differences back and forth: Two levels of intergroup accentuation

Rothermund,

Deutsch

2023

British J Social Psychol

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Social perceivers tend to exaggerate existing differences between groups, a phenomenon known as intergroup accentuation. In two preregistered experiments, we tested the hypothesis that accentuation originates in the initial learning of information about a novel group. In both experiments, perceivers exaggerated differences between two fictitious social groups that differed probabilistically in two dimensional traits. As hypothesized, accentuation was stronger for the group encountered second, confirming that accentuation originates partly in processes operating during the acquisition of group information. However, accentuation was also robust for the group encountered first, suggesting that it also occurs ‘backward’ even when group learning was unbiased. We discuss implications for stereotype formation generally and the perception of social minorities and out‐groups specifically. As these groups are often encountered second in social reality, stereotypes of them might be particularly polarized.

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Section: Backward Accentuationmentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Intergroup Accentuationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exaggerating differences back and forth: Two levels of intergroup accentuation

Rothermund,

Deutsch

2023

British J Social Psychol

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“…When individuals evaluate their well-being in the aftermath of a potentially traumatic event, they may engage in the process of social comparison (e.g., "How are other trauma survivors doing compared to how I am doing? ", Festinger, 1954;Unkelbach et al, 2023).…”

Section: Clinical Impact Statementmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, life satisfaction, and well-being comparisons: A longitudinal investigation

Schlechter¹,

Hoppen²,

Morina³

2023

Preprint

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Objective: Many individuals who encounter potentially traumatic events go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Research suggests that survivors of traumatic events frequently compare their current well-being to different standards. Yet, our understanding of the role of comparative thinking in well-being is limited to a few cross-sectional studies. We therefore examined the temporal relationship between aversive well-being comparisons (i.e., comparisons threatening self-motives), PTSD symptoms, and life satisfaction in individuals with a trauma history. Method: A sample of 518 participants with exposure to traumatic events was administered measures of PTSD, life satisfaction, and the Comparison Standards Scale for Well-being (CSS-W) at two timepoints, three months apart. The CSS-W assessed the frequency, perceived discrepancy, and affective impact of aversive social, temporal, counterfactual, and criteria-based comparisons related to well-being. Results: Comparison frequency emerged as significant predictor of PTSD symptoms, beyond baseline PTSD levels. Life satisfaction contributed unique variance to the comparison process by predicting comparison frequency, discrepancy, and affective impact. The findings suggest that frequent aversive comparisons may lead to a persistent focus on negative aspects of well-being, thereby exacerbating PTSD symptoms. They further indicate that comparison frequency, discrepancy, and affective impact are significantly influenced by life-satisfaction. Conclusions: Altogether, the findings support the need for a thorough examination of the role of comparative behavior in clinical populations, which may ultimately help improve clinical care.

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“…Comparison processes are ubiquitous in everyday life (Gerber et al, 2018). Most research has focused on different aspects of social comparisons and how they affect well‐being (Gerber et al, 2018; Reiff et al, 2022; Unkelbach et al, 2023). Specifically, meta‐analytical evidence suggests that depressive and anxiety symptoms are associated with negative self‐evaluation in relation to others (McCarthy & Morina, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The associations among well‐being comparisons and affective styles in depression, anxiety, and mental health quality of life

Schlechter,

Morina

2023

J Clin Psychol

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ObjectiveFrame‐of‐reference theories suggest that individuals use different comparison types to evaluate their well‐being. Research indicates that the frequency of aversive well‐being comparisons is related to depression, with engendered comparison affective impact partly accounting for this relationship. We aimed to replicate this finding, examine whether this extends to anxiety and mental health quality of life, and whether these pathways are moderated by affective styles of concealing, adjusting, and tolerating. We expected concealing as a response‐focused style to be associated with higher effects of comparison affective impact on depression, anxiety, and mental health quality of life. Adjusting as an antecedent‐focused strategy was expected to mitigate the effects of aversive comparison frequency on comparison affective impact, and the effects of comparison affective impact on the outcomes. Finally, tolerating was expected to be associated with lower effects on both pathways.Methods and MeasuresParticipants (N = 596) responded to measures of well‐being comparisons, affective styles, depression, anxiety, and mental health quality of life.ResultsFrequency of aversive well‐being comparisons was associated with all outcomes. These relationships were partially mediated by comparison affective impact. Adjustment moderated the pathway between aversive comparison frequency and comparison affective impact. No other moderation effect emerged.ConclusionThe comparison process appears important in well‐being evaluations.

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Relativity in Social Cognition: Basic processes and novel applications of social comparisons

Cited by 18 publications

References 149 publications

Exaggerating differences back and forth: Two levels of intergroup accentuation

Exaggerating differences back and forth: Two levels of intergroup accentuation

The relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, life satisfaction, and well-being comparisons: A longitudinal investigation

The associations among well‐being comparisons and affective styles in depression, anxiety, and mental health quality of life

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